Memories & Lessons

Family poker nights were the most fun in our house when I was a little girl. My Dad would get us all together and cook steaks and baked potatoes while my Mom finished up at work. When she got home, we would all sit down to eat as a family and shuffle up and deal. I learned how to recognize winning hands and did my best to keep a poker face. It’s hard to keep a poker face when you can barely sit still in your seat when you get a pocket pair.

When starting out playing Texas Holdem, it can be overwhelming to learn all the rules, the winning hands, strategy, how to read players, etc. When I was older, I became serious about learning to play poker. I benefited from taking a phased approach to my learning. I started by playing “cards”. I took the advice given to me by Kelly England to play 10s or better only. If I didn’t have a face card and a 10 or better kicker, I folded. It limited when I could get in hands and when people would call me; however, it also limited my losses. This allowed me time to continue to study the game, gain experience, learn to read players and question strategies.

If you are just getting started, I recommend you start by just playing the stronger hands you are dealt. Allow yourself time to learn strategy by reading books, listening to audiobooks, talking to other players, and practicing at freeroll poker games. Poker can be compared to an individual sport. Athletes can’t just start playing a sport and expect to win games and medals. To succeed, it’s essential to build a strong foundation of knowledge, practice consistently, and maintain self-discipline. The same can be said for poker. Success is a mix of luck and discipline.

See you on the felt.

Brenda